July 29, 2013

SWEETWATER â€” Striking a tone that has become increasingly fashionable among Texas politicians, House Speaker Joe Straus urged his fellow lawmakers at the outset of this yearâ€™s legislative session to â€śexpand opportunity in Texas this session by improving coordination among high schools, community and technical colleges and the private sector so that no young person feels destined to spend life drifting from one low-skilled, minimum-wage job to the next.â€ť

July 29, 2013

Nolan County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Dennis Cumbie announced that the Texas FSA State Committee revised a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) emergency grazing policy that limited eligibility on acres grazed in previous fiscal years.
Based on a revised policy decision made by the Texas FSA State Committee, CRP acres grazed during fiscal year 2011 or 2012 will be considered eligible for emergency grazing if NRCS verifies, on a case-by-case basis, that the conservation cover will sustain grazing.

July 29, 2013

Local employees of the Texas Department of Transportation were recently honored for their years of service to the agency.
Elmer Green Jr. (shown), an engineering technician for the Nolan County maintenance office, was recognized for his 25 years of service to the department.
Cammy Guelker, office manager and John Scifres, a transportation technician, each were honored for 15 years of service.

July 29, 2013

Funeral services for Michelle Elaine Brown, 50, of Rotan and formerly of Sweetwater, will be held on Friday, August 2, 2013 at 4th and Elm Church of Christ with Rev. Robert Carey officiating. Interment will follow at Sweetwater Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home in Sweetwater.
A wake will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2013, at 7 p.m. at McCoy Funeral Home.
Brown died Friday, July 26, 2013 in Rotan.
She was born on December 3, 1962 in Sweetwater. She was married in Sweetwater.

July 29, 2013

Graveside services for John E. Dever, Jr., 80, of Lubbock, will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 29, 2013 in the Abernathy Cemetery.Â Services are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home and Flower Shop of Abernathy.
Mr. Dever died Thursday, July 25, 2013, in Lubbock.

July 29, 2013

Expect partly sunny skies today with a high near 95, even though heat index values could be as high as 98. Winds will be from the south around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
We'll see a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms in our area after 1 p.m., but dwindling down to around 10% before 11 p.m. Otherwise, tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 76 and south-southeastern winds around 15 mph. Gusts could get as high as 20 mph.
Visit weather.gov to learn more.

July 29, 2013

Sweetwater Youth Soccer registration will be held on three days this week. It will be at Hibbett Sports, located at 1008 East Broadway, between the hours of 5:30 and 7 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31; Thursday, Aug. 1; and Friday, Aug. 2. No late registration will be held.
Sweetwater Youth Soccer is open to girls and boys who are between ages 4-12. Registration will be $50 per child and $45 for each ad-ditional sibling. Sponsor-ships are also being accepted. For more information, contact Patience McCoy at (325) 829-2059.

July 29, 2013

The Kiwanis Club of Sweetwater has its first-ever Family Fun Co-Ed Softball Tournament on Aug. 3.
The tournament will be a round robin followed by single elimination, with a guarantee of four games. The tournament will be limited to eight teams divided into two divisions.
The first division will have four competitive teams (league or tournament teams) and allows unlimited home runs, with each home run hit costing $1. There will be no run rule implemented per inning.

July 29, 2013

Sixty-three students who are entering grades 3-9 were present at Mustang Bowl last week to participate in a Mustang Football Camp.
Members of the Mustang coaching staff led this yearâ€™s camp. They emphasized skills and drills with punt, pass and kick instruction and competitions for the students.